Ho Chi Minh government imposed punishments worth nearly US$281,000 on businesses polluting the environment last year and during the first half of this year, the city People's Committee said in a statement.

Environmental inspectors from the city during the period checked 415 businesses and found environmental violations at 238 of them.

Two of the businesses have been asked to stop operation, the statement said, without giving further details.

According to the city government, the businesses have fulfilled 80 percent of the cash punishments but they have not been able to do much to reverse the pollution acts.